PS4 is made up of cheaper hardware than its predecessor because Sony fears it will see a smaller install base in next-gen, ex-Battlefield producer and EA exec Ben Cousins has suggested.
Former EA exec Cousins is now heading up development of The Drowning at Scattered Entertainment, a game that promises to push boundaries in the tablet space. It’s a corner of the industry he clearly feels strongly about, along with the notion of triple-a free-to-play titles.
Speaking with GI.biz Cousins suggested that his team would be targeting gamers who buy into a console cycle mid-way through and buy games like FIFA and Call of Duty, rather than dabbling in far-reaching titles. He argued that tablets are going to become a more attractive prospect for this particular brand of gamer.
“We kind of feel that particularly tablets are becoming, will become, a solution for that problem or for that need”, he said. “Soon it will be like actually, I’m getting everything I need here, do I really need to buy a console? These are the sort of guys who buy a console halfway through the cycle rather than right at the start.
“I think the problem with the console model and certainly with the previous generation was that it needed the ultra-hardcore, the kids, and those kind of mid-core or whatever you it call it, mainstream gamers, to a buy a console in order to make a profit because it just needed massive volume.”
Cousins suggested that Sony has realised that this shift in player-base is changing when developing PS4 and explained why this may have prompted them to go for cheaper hardware than it did with PS3.
“It was interesting to see PS4 clearly go for what looks like cheaper hardware than last time around,” he continued, “so maybe that’s a kind of defensive move against their expectation that they’re not going to have the same install base, or maybe they just want to hit profitability quicker because of Sony’s less stable financial state at the moment.”
When asked if this was also because of Sony’s lesser financial situation than this time ahead of the PS3′s launch, Cousins replied, “Exactly, so that was interesting. That feels like they’re kind of acknowledging the threat and they’re kind of doing the best they can to kind of defend against it.
“But I do still feel like…and maybe it’s a selection bias, but most of the people I talk to and whose work I read are kind of in agreement…that this time around console install bases will be smaller. And probably will be focused more on that core audience. It’s certainly not going to be kids and casual gamers buying consoles any more I don’t think, they’re going to be all on mobile.”
What do you think about the tablet space and its ability to challenge the console gaming archetype as we know it? Let us know below.

“But I do still feel like…and maybe it’s a selection bias, but most of the people I talk to and whose work I read are kind of in agreement…that this time around console install bases will be smaller. And probably will be focused more on that core audience. It’s certainly not going to be kids and casual gamers buying consoles any more I don’t think, they’re going to be all on mobile.”

Didnt read like that to me, and I dont believe for a second its due to the install base. Its just what the consumer would be willing to spend.
Though I did get turned off half way through, especially after Tablets and that started showing up

Why isn't it a valid point? It isn't hard to believe regardless of where someone has worked in the past.

Because console user bases have increased every generation since the very beginning and have never decreased. At worst the numbers will stay static. It's a totally invalid point my friend. Mobile/tablet, these are just not the same market.

Because console user bases have increased every generation since the very beginning and have never decreased. At worst the numbers will stay static. It's a totally invalid point my friend. Mobile/tablet, these are just not the same market.

Having increase doesn't necessarily mean the same thing though. Yes, it increased, but not as much as it increased previously. The tablet/mobile market is increasing more and more. The idea that the console install base might be smaller is a valid point to make. That doesn't mean it IS going to happen, but it certainly could.

This guy is no longer at EA, and as he works for a "mobile/tablet only" studio, i doubt he has a ps4 devkit handy.

EA have more pressing issues to deal with.

Sony and Microsoft choosing the common x86_64 architecture will only benefit the industry as a whole.

The proliferation of easy to use tools and APIs should ensure a larger pool of launch games. We all know that it is games, or the promise of certain high quality games that ultimately sell hardware. Good price/performance value hardware coupled with tried and tested components is common sense in such turbulent economic markets.

This is the type of garbage EA needs to get out of their company. Thank goodness that jackass John Riccitiello is out of there. The guy in the article is a dumbass, it's that simple. I had to stop reading at a certain point because I wont waste my time reading trash from a guy that clearly doesn't get it.

Sony learned a valuable lesson from the PS3 launch. That is, consumers aren't willing to pay top tier prices on their hardware. Think about how many times you've read (or even said) Sony need to price cut x,y,z. They can no longer charge a premium because recent evidence suggests people won't buy.

A lower entry point for this generation was practically a given. That said, if they've got value for money in their build, they should reap the rewards out the other side.

Please change the title as "former ea exec says" ...
And about console users ; new generation is not like us, they love tablets and play angrybirds for years. Yet an average console gamer, spend around ten times than a casual.

Having increase doesn't necessarily mean the same thing though. Yes, it increased, but not as much as it increased previously. The tablet/mobile market is increasing more and more. The idea that the console install base might be smaller is a valid point to make. That doesn't mean it IS going to happen, but it certainly could.

Sure, a remote chance. Not enough to warrant talking about it as if it's likely

This gen started right before the biggest recession in modern history, the PS3 was extremely expensive and consoles have still outsold last gen. There's nothing at all to suggest sales will drop this time, especially since it has been a 6-7 year gap

The article is not that bad, maybe he should have used the word 'affordable' rather than 'cheap'. Him suggesting that Sony made this move because in his opinion the core is shifting towards tablet and mobile gaming or that there is a bigger market there is where I do disagree with him, Sony has mentioned they will tackle that market but not at the cost of losing core gamers. I just find that difficult to believe.

The article is not that bad, maybe he should have used the word 'affordable' rather than 'cheap'. Him suggesting that Sony made this move because in his opinion the core is shifting towards tablet and mobile gaming or that there is a bigger market there is where I do disagree with him, Sony has mentioned they will tackle that market but not at the cost of losing core gamers. I just find that difficult to believe.

What do you find difficult to believe, that "Sony will tackle that market but not at the cost of losing core gamers"?

What do you find difficult to believe, that "Sony will tackle that market but not at the cost of losing core gamers"?

No. I find difficult to believe that Sony went with more affordable hardware because it expects the core market of the PS4 to be weak or shifting to a more mainstream mobile gaming market. I think Sony will do fine in the mobile market just don't think that market has anything to do with why Sony went with more affordable hardware on the PS4.

Geez... he may be a former exec, but that doesn't disqualify him from giving an educated opinion. I give someone in the industry a tad bit more credibility then joe average console player on a forum. He does make some valid points.

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